Two hundred mahouts accompanied by 11 elephants paid their respects to His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the Grand Palace on Tuesday .
The elephants had travelled by truck from Ayutthaya to the Grand Palace. They then walked from the nearby Territorial Defence Command to the area in front of the Defence Ministry around 9.50am.
The animals and their carers observed a moment of silence in front of the Grand Palace. The elephants then knelt before a portrait of the late King as their keepers sang the royal anthem Sansoen Phra Barami .
Watching mourners then joined the mahouts in singing the royal anthem in tribute to the late King.
The mahouts and the elephants then moved on to Sanam Luang where they paid their respects to the Pink Elephant Statue and gave a performance for mourners who were waiting to enter the palace .
The owner of the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal, said that the animals were trained to perform in honour of the late King. All mahouts appreciated the King Bhumibol’s generosity and his help for all elephants.
His Majesty was a great conservationist who showed deep love and concern for Thailand’s wildlife.
(With thanks to the Bangkok Post)